PM mulls delaying liberalisation for 2% stake in BTC

Bahamas PM Perry Christie is considering delaying liberalisation of the wireless sector in exchange for reclaiming a majority stake in Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). The government sold a 51% stake in BTC to Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) for USD210 million in April 2011, although following a change of government the following year, the state has since sought to reclaim majority holding in the company. The Nassau Guardian quotes the PM as saying: ‘The question is whether or not I extend the time for them to hold on [to the monopoly] and extend the date for liberalisation. Anything is a possibility. If they’re saying that I want you to think about this for 2%, then I’ll think about it.’ The extension would not be a long one, however. Christie clarified that liberalisation would go ahead under his administration and that it was something that he would ‘not compromise on.’